Wolf Totem - James Horner

3/8/15

What You Will Hear: James Horner as we haven't heard him in a decade. I LOVE THIS SCORE.Standout Tracks: Gold Star. Every track is perfect. I LOVE THIS SCORE.

Will you be humming along?Yes, there is a simple 6 note motif used in a variety of ways throughout the score. I LOVE THIS SCORE.The piece this makes me want to dust off: Every Horner score from 1990-2000. I LOVE THIS SCORE.​Will I come back to it? YES. The high strings sing like only Horner can make them. The low strings are fuller than anyone else has ever mastered. The brass are brighter (or darker when needed) and clearer than I've heard in years. The woodwinds are expertly peppered through out. The percussion rumbles through action cues and provides Horner's signature impact on single beats during major moments. Along with countless other Horner calling cards, his "danger motif" makes a brief and nostalgic appearance. But, we are also treated to new material never heard from the composer (check out the strings on "Tengger.") The main melodic theme is beautifully woven from one cue to the next. It is perfectly used to accompany action, romance, melancholy, humor, and countless other emotions. The harmonic backbone of this score tugs at the heart strings on a regular basis. Wolf Totem is like a love letter from 1990's James Horner to those of us that have missed his fullest potential over the past decade. He's telling us not to worry, that he's still got "it." Here, James Horner proves that he can still soar to the highest of heights. I LOVE THIS SCORE.